Cards edge Miracle 3-1
The Palm Beach Cardinals knocked off the Fort Myers Miracle 3-1 at Hammond Stadium Tuesday night.
The Miracle earned a run in the first inning without the benefit of a hit as Logan Wade reached on a walk from Cardinals starter and Bonita Springs native Matt Pearce. Wade then advanced to second when Chris Paul flew out to deep right. Pearce (5-1) got Nick Gordon to hit a ground ball to short, but Oscar Mercado fumbled the fielding opportunity. Miracle manager Jeff Smith waved Wade around third base to score for a 1-0 lead.
Palm Beach took the lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Mercado singled up the middle off Miracle starter Tyler Jay. Allen Staton pulled a base hit through the left side to push Mercado to second base. With Jesse Jenner at the dish, Mercado swiped third. Jenner followed with a ground ball to short that plated Mercado and tied the game. The next batter, Michael Pritchard, lined a base hit up the middle and Staton scored from second to lead 2-1.
Jay (3-4) went five innings for the Miracle and struck out a season-high eight while allowing two runs. Jay walked one and allowed six hits. Jay and the Miracle bullpen combined for a team-high 14 strikeouts for an individual game this season.
Pearce qualified for the win for the Cardinals after going five innings and surrendering just one unearned run on five hits with a walk and two punch outs.
The Cardinals added a run to the lead in the top of the sixth. Blake Drake led off with a single to left off Miracle reliever Brandon Peterson. Drake then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Peterson struck out Mercado, but Staton’s ground out to short plated Drake to push the Palm Beach advantage to 3-1.
Palm Beach’s bullpen combined to toss four innings of scoreless relief with Rowan Wick picking up his second save of the season after finishing the ninth.
The Miracle (24-22) face the Cardinals (21-25) Wednesday in the second game of the three-game series at Hammond Stadium.